Policemen torture photographer to death over bail money

Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Oyo State Police Command, have allegedly tortured a 50-year-old photographer, Kola Adeyeye, to death.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim was arrested along with four others in the Challenge area penultimate Friday.

The victim was said to be taking a herb concoction at a joint when the policemen raided the spot around 8.30pm, arresting everybody at the joint.

They were said to have been taken to the SARS office in Dugbe, where their statements were taken.

Our correspondent was told that after rounds of beatings, the suspects were taken to a courtyard, where the head of the SARS team interviewed them.

He was said to have cleared all the suspects, but ordered that they pay for bail before their release from detention.

It was learnt that while the four others paid between N25,000 and N40,000, the victim could not find anyone to raise the bail sum.

He was reportedly kept in detention for seven days before a man, sent by his pastor, paid N3,500 for his bail.

He was being taken home on a motorcycle when he slumped and died.

One of the suspects arrested with the victim said his own family paid N40,000 for his release from detention.

He said, “We were arrested on Friday, April 21, 2017, around 8.30pm. The man was taking herbs, while some of us were smoking. When we demanded to know our offences, the police said they were conducting a raid.

“They took us to their headquarters at Dugbe. When we arrived there, they first took our statements. They then took us to a room, where they descended on us. The beating was serious.

“The elderly man kept telling them that he was a photographer, but they didn’t listen to him.

“Later, they took us to a courtyard, called Assembly, where their boss interviewed us. By Monday, three persons had been released after paying some money.

“The policemen visited my house for a search and they did not find anything incriminating. They searched the man’s house as well without seeing anything. Their senior officer then said we were innocent and could be released as well after paying for bail.

“My family paid N40,000 for bail, but nobody showed up for the photographer. If he had been released on time, he probably wouldn’t have died.”

The resident, who tried to bail Kola, said he had gone to the SARS office for the bail of a suspect in another case when he sighted the victim.

He said when the police demanded N30,000 for his bail, he contacted the victim’s pastor, who urged him to negotiate the sum.

He said, “When they said I should bring N30,000, I called his pastor to inform him and he said I should negotiate with them.

“I later returned on Friday and when the policemen saw me, they said I could bring N5,000 because the man was seriously sick and needed urgent medical attention. I told them that all I had was just N2,000. I borrowed N1,500 from a motorcycle rider that took me there to make the money N3,500.

“They said the money must be complete. I left to look for the balance. But before I got back to the place, I discovered they had asked another motorcycle rider to take him away because of his critical condition.

“It was on the way home that he slumped on the motorcycle and died. As I speak with you, they still have his mobile phone, which they seized pending when we would pay the balance of N1,500.”

The victim’s younger brother, Olaolu Adeyeye, said a neighbour alerted him to the arrest of the deceased.

He said, “I saw two of those that had been bailed and they said they paid N25,000 each before they were released. I didn’t have any money and had to call other relatives to raise the money. When the money was not forthcoming, I asked my neighbour, a doctor, to help us. I was later told they had brought him home. He was dead with a lot of torture marks.”

Olaolu described the victim as a hard working photographer who was killed for nothing.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ajisebutu Adekunle, confirmed the incident, but denied that the police were responsible for Kola’s death.

He said, “The suspect was not tortured in any way. Are you aware that he died after his release from detention? The police did not torture him. Death can come anywhere, anytime. You are aware that people sleep in their homes without waking up. So, his death has nothing to do with his arrest and detention.

“He was not the only one arrested. He was arrested during raids of black spots. The command has embarked on raids of criminal hideouts to curtail the activities of criminals in Oyo State. On the issue of the bail money, I will find out. If it is true, appropriate measures will be taken against those responsible. Bail is free.”

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Ugo

Mr. Police PRO, you have spoken eloquent grammar. Wonderful response. Beautiful language. We commend you. But remember that no wickedness of man ever goes unpunished. If not today, then certainly tomorrow. And if not in this life, then in the hereafter. For the avoidance of doubt. go and read your Bible: Proverbs 11:21. This poor photographer may have nobody to plead his cause. He may have no man to call you and the evil-minded police force you represent to order. His family may not be able to afford the huge sums of money needed for an autopsy to link your men to this sudden death. Or the amount of money needed to hire a good lawyer. But mark my words. Just as his life has been wasted innocently and his family left in sorrow, so shall it be with each one of those who played a role in his death and yourself who defends evil as good. Vox Populi, Vox Dei. The voice of the people is the voice of God.

lawiri

Spot on !

Rare Platinum

I stand with your point Brother!

lawwy

so shall it be in the mighty name of God, all those who partake in the sudden death of the innocent photographer shall see the wrath of God.

God is the voice of the voiceless.

Fula

I agree with you sir. This is the height of wickedness and the police PRO will reap the evil rewards toether with his colleagues. SHAME

Hafeez Adeyanju

i also say amen

PolyGon2013

The police in Oyo State killed the guy.

Rio

Can Nigeria ever be led by sane leaders who actually appreciate the value of human life? Such leaders would not allow what is currently happening to poor Nigerians to continue.
Imagine being arrested for drinking at a relaxation spot, detained, tortured and then asked to pay a bribe of 30,000 naira, almost double the country’s monthly minimum wage! And left dying in a cell because you can’t pay bribe.

Sophie Vladimir

It is not sane leaders that would deliver dignity and respect to you, you have to demand it, how many protests have you seen against the police despite the widespread and notorious mayhem perpetrated by them. until Nigerians stand up for their rights nothing will change.

Ola AY

If anybody has the family contact I am ready to pay for the autopsy for verification of the man’s delth.

Oladapo Sunday

Great, you can contact the punch reporter that did the news.

Okey de-Lawrence Umezuruike

They did it to a poor man and succeeded but they can’t try that nonsense to every citizen and go free. The family of the deceased person and other victims should sue the Police for N500 million and make sure they involve Human Rights organizations. The IG, the state Government and Police Service Commission must be petitioned. These criminals must be dismissed from NPF.
These illiterate criminals in black uniforms are mostly junior officers. Hardly you see senior officers doing this. 96% of SARS junior officers are school drop out from very poor family background and when given the privilege to serve in NPF they don’t apply discretion and forget that they can be dismissed and sentenced to jail.

Don-Teddy

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ajisebutu Adekunle, confirmed the incident, but denied that the police were responsible for Kola’s death.He said, “The suspect was not tortured in any way. Are you aware that he died after his release from detention?The police did not torture him. Death can come anywhere, anytime. You are aware that people sleep in their homes without waking up. So, his death has nothing to do with his arrest and detention. I was not expecting anything less from a degenerated and wicked organization in Nigeria, without human feelings, always after the poor for their gains, and you expect evil to be far from you…no way! you have just invited the wrath of God almighty upon yourself and other same thinking police officers…..You’re very unprofessional, still wondering how you got that exalted position, anyways, it is expected from a dirty organization like the police force….The law of karma will certainly play it role soon.

Sandra

What an evil country…basically hell on earth…!!!

Iragbijiile Grant

The guy is most likely Yibo.

ccc

I don’t think you have a father, let nobody tell me that you have any.

Sophie Vladimir

Which guy, the guy who took your brains and replaced it with butt tissues… yes probably

jaybee

DSP Ajisebutu for shielding these criminals and killers expect the wrath of God on your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. All of you that contributed to the innocent man’s death, your ways shall be dark and slippery and the angels of God will persecute you.

ADER DELE

Nigeria Police is full of armed robbers & fraudsters, so many Nigerians are going through hell in police cell for committing no offence & unfortunately there head will always play the card of holier than thou with the press. I have seen a taxi driver been charge for robbery because he refused to pay at check point. Agugu police station & Idi-aro are the worst station for extortion.

Dare Idowu

The govt has absolute good intentions when the site a police station at big commercial areas but the NPF we have in this generation have taken total abuse of that opportunity and seriously stolen from and even killed many people. The police station in Sango, SARS office in Dugbe, Police station at Pen Cinema, the polular notorious station at Ketu…..these places have been brutal and known to be very corrupt for years, even since i was in primary school….no matter the change in government, no matter the changes in IG, they have been the same and does same thing…….The police station on Ekoro road in Abule egba goes around shops, car packs and garages in the morning like 9am and collect money all through from abule egba to meiran to ekoro road and down to command….Its so bad but we just live with it because our government makes it seems they have no “real” power to change things “permanently”

adekunle Oluwafunmibi

DSP Ajisebutu Adekunle, HUmmmmmm….I wonder how we Nigerians are copying with the wicked and self centre force that is invading our life everyday,imaging what a PRO said,it is on fair to outer such statement at a crusher time like these,the incident was confirmed by by 3 other persons and yet you NPF were claiming death can come at anytime,did the guy been attend to?did he eat anything while in detection?did any one attend to his ill health while they detained him with no reason????? These are question I want the NPF to answer and mind you if you think no one can catch you remember the 6feet,NEMESIS while catch up with you all one day.
We are watching these one ooooooo,we’ll all follow these to logic unfailingly and these is a call to INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE to help us caution the police force in OYO state to stop there bad behavour and self centre affairs.

Sophie Vladimir

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ajisebutu Adekunle after his sappy comment went back in, gave his colleagues high fives, they hailed his grammar and they had a goof laugh…

See how a life was just wasted, apart from the death see how people are treated in their own country.

A worse fate awaits you people.

Wale Williams

All said than done.WHAT IF THE MANs DEATH WAS NATURAL CAUSE?….. all the curses be upon senders

Oluseyi

This is arrant nonsense of the highest order. the Nigeria Police Force has become a threat to human life from time immemorial. The organization if full of rogues and irresponsible individuals who have no value system. I wish the House of Assembly moves a motion for the scrapping of the nigerian police to reconstitute a new system of policing in this country. As for the Police PRO, for saying what you said, it shows you are an hypocrite of the highest rank. it is better you dont say anything about the case than telling this big lie. You and your other rogues will die a terrible death and if you continue this way, your generations to come will suffer for this your singular act.

Netanyahu

Sometimes I wonder if there is any Christian in the police, I mean even a church goer? Is this PRO a human being? I can understand why the children of policemen and women are so useless, drug addicts and criminals. How can a sane human being give the kind of satanic explanation to the most cruel way of killing an innocent man? Shame.